Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Tokenised funds are emerging as one of the most exciting developments in asset management, promising new ways to structure, access, and scale investments. Yet adoption has been cautious, with regulatory frameworks still evolving. Singapore’s Project Guardian has just released a playbook for operationalising tokenised funds, covering everything from digital-native fund structures to the use of stablecoins and wholesale CBDCs for settlements. Could tokenised funds be the next major shift in investing? And as blockchain and digital assets increasingly intersect with traditional finance, how can investors distinguish real opportunities from hype? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Danny Chong, Co-Chairman of the Digital Assets Association Singapore, to break down what this means for the future of investment.

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada started with a viral grandmother who refused to buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren, choosing instead to invest money for their future. That theme carried into the workplace, where YouTuber Cleetus McFarland surprised his 20 employees with quirky Christmas bonuses, $3,000 mini Jeep-style go-karts, earning praise for creativity and raising the question of whether a memorable gift beats cash. We ended on a more serious note in South Korea, where professors were fined for taking exams on behalf of students to keep a struggling department alive, highlighting how pressure, desperation and good intentions

2025 has been anything but a straight line for Asian currencies. Some have surprised with resilience, others have slid to record lows, all shaped by global volatility, domestic pressures, and a shifting US dollar. From the Indian rupee’s struggles to the Malaysian ringgit’s standout run, it’s been a year of clear winners and losers. So who came out on top, who fell behind, and what does it mean for FX risks and opportunities in the year ahead? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Wee Khoon Chong, APAC Macro Strategist, BNY, to find out more. 

Singapore shares dipped in a shortened trading session today as investors looked ahead to the Christmas Day holiday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.16% at 4,631.39 points at 10.59am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$279.02M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust.  That’s after the Reit’s manager posted an update today that the master restructuring agreement concessions, which include an extension of its asset disposal deadline and temporary relaxation of its financial covenants from Dec 31, 2025, to Jun 30 next year, have been granted.  Elsewhere, from how the US economy expanded at a much faster-than-expected clip in the third quarter, to the elusive Santa Claus rally setting in, more economic and international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeffrey Yap, Regional Head of Wealth Management, Hong Leong Bank.

From Secret Santa shockers to Robin Hood Santas and a nativity that’s gone to the dogs, today’s What's Trending stories cover the full naughty-to-nice spectrum. Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss a student in the Philippines that was left distressed after receiving a wrapped hollow concrete block as a Secret Santa gift, sparking outrage online over cruelty disguised as a prank. In Canada, a group dressed as Santas and elves stole thousands of dollars’ worth of groceries from a Montreal supermarket, later redistributing them to those in need to protest the rising cost of living, raising the question of whether that lands them on Santa’s naughty or nice list. And finally, a wholesome note from the UK, where a dog day care centre has gone viral for recreating the Christmas nativity scene with 12 dogs and even a pony, proving that sometimes the best holiday cheer comes with fur and four legs.

Cambodia and Thailand are on the brink of returning to a ceasefire, but only after weeks of intense fighting that has left dozens dead and nearly a million displaced. The renewed hostilities, sparked by accusations over landmines and long-standing border disputes, have escalated into airstrikes and heavy shelling along critical border towns. Now, all eyes are on the Christmas Eve meeting of the General Border Committee, a high-stakes negotiation co-chaired by the two countries’ defense ministers, backed by ASEAN, China, and the US. Can this latest round of talks finally stop the bloodshed? Or is mistrust and nationalist rhetoric too high to overcome?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to May Wong, Indochina Bureau Chief at The Straits Times, to find out more. 

Tequila has been on fire in the global spirits scene, but 2025 tells a more nuanced story. Growth has slowed, inventories are piling up, and investors are getting picky. So, if you’ve ever thought of tequila as more than just a drink, maybe even as an investment, what really worked this year, what stumbled, and what’s next for the market? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jacob Daniels, Sales and Marketing Director, Gordon Premium Spirits, to find out more. 

Singapore shares rose today to track gains seen in regional markets. The Straits Times Index was up 0.39% at 4,628.44 points at 12.44pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$606.52M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have CapitaLand Investment, after the firm said Bursa-listed CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (CLMT) has agreed to buy five high-specification industrial facilities in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone for RM220.8 million (S$69.2 million).  Meanwhile, from how Singapore’s consumer prices held steady in November, to how Indonesia is set to sign a trade tariff agreement with the US in January, with US tariffs on Indonesian goods set at 19 per cent, more economic and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – how Nvidia reportedly told Chinese clients it aims to start shipping its second-most powerful AI chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.  

Today on What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss a breakup that ended in court after a man in China sued his ex-fiancée over dating costs, a Canadian student who went viral for falling in love with Singapore’s neighbourhood bakeries, and a US graduation ceremony that ditched tradition for memes as students turned their big walk across the stage into internet gold.

It’s been one year since the introduction of HDB’s Prime, Plus and Standard classification framework. But while Prime flats continue to attract strong interest, demand for Plus flats has been more uneven, with some buyers appearing cautious about taking on tighter resale conditions, without a clear location premium. So what does this tell us about buyer behaviour, affordability, and the effectiveness of the new framework so far? And as more flats come on stream, what could this mean for future demand across different locations? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nizam AR, Associate at ERA Realty Network, for more insights.